Coyotes could officially get the hands-off treatment from Chicago's animal control department under a proposal headed to the City Council this week.

Under a measure that passed the Health Committee on Monday, animal control workers won't try to trap and remove or kill coyotes unless they're causing some kind of problem.

Ald. Brian Hopkins, who brought forward the plan, said it will still give officials leeway to handle coyotes.

"It just states that the default policy, in any case where a coyote has been reported in the city of Chicago, is to simply leave that animal alone unless they are creating a documented problem, in which case the animal control department would act in full accordance with its existing rules to deal with any problem animal, whether it's a raccoon, or a possum, or a skunk, or any animal that could be considered a nuisance in the city," said Hopkins, 2nd.

According to the ordinance, lethal force would only be used in cases of "an incident or an attack," such as "a conflict between a human and a coyote where the coyote exhibits the following behavior: coyote approaches human and growls, bares teeth, or lunges; injures or kills an escorted/on-leash pet. When a human is injured it is defined as an 'attack.'"

Hopkins said the head of Animal Care and Control will have authority to set rules and to deal with coyotes "on a case-by-case basis."